Bugaboo Provincial Park
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A campfire ban is currently in effect for this park. For more information about campfire bans and about provincial parks with park closures and campfire bans in effect, visit the BC Parks campfire ban webpage.
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As of September 21, 2009:
- The Cobalt Lake trail is closed due to the presence of a problem grizzly in the area.
- The Conrad Kain hut is open to the public and staffed full-time. For hut bookings contact the Alpine Club of Canada.
- The Bugaboo-Snowpatch Col is in very poor condition. Rappel stations have been removed from the climbers’ right hand side of the col to avoid rockfall. Consider alternatives such as the Bugaboo glacier approach and the Pigeon-Snowpatch rappel route.
- The Kain Hut will be fully staffed and operational until September 25th. The hut is still available for booking from then until November 15th, but during this time the hydroelectric, propane, water, and grey water systems at the hut are not operational. Be prepared for winter conditions.
- From November 16th to April 30th the hut is closed to all overnight use due to avalanche hazard.
- At present no helicopter company has permission to carry out commercial air transportation to Bugaboo Park on a charter basis. Canadian Mountain Holidays’ Park Use Permit only authorises them to transport their own guests for the purpose of their helicopter skiing and helicopter hiking programs.
- Please note that fires and domestic animals are prohibited within the park.
- Trail Report
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Park Info
- June 3rd, 2009 aerial view of Crescent Glacier
Bugaboo Provincial Park, situated in the Purcell Mountains of southeast British Columbia, continues to draw climbers from around the world to its airy, glacier-sculpted granite spires. With many peaks over 3,000 metres in elevation the Bugaboo’s offer awe inspiring mountain and glacier terrain.
The Conrad Kain Hut is maintained by BC Parks and the Alpine Club of Canada. This base camp for climbers operates to reduce visitor impacts on the fragile timberline area below Snowpatch Spire.
Road access to the park is relatively easy via logging roads but hiking trails are few. Inexperienced or ill-equipped climbers and hikers should forego a visit here in favour of less demanding areas of the province.
Click here to view a non-government web link, for additional information.
Park Size: 13,646.60 hectares
Special Notes:
- Bugaboo Provincial Park is a remote area. Persons intending to visit the Bugaboos must realize there are no supplies, equipment or transportation arrangements of any kind available in the park. Visitors must be prepared for outdoor living in a mountain environment. Hut accommodation is not available in winter because of avalanche dangers.
- It is recommended that visitors protect their vehicle perimeter with a portable chicken wire fence to deter porcupines and other small animals from chewing on rubber brake lines and tires.
- National Topographic Series Maps 82K/10 (Howser Creek) and 82K/15 (Bugaboo Creek) are at a scale of 1:50,000 and cover all but the western limits of the park. These maps are available from Government Agents and most map retailers in British Columbia.
- 'The Bugaboos - One of the World's Great Alpine Rockclimbing Centres' is a comprehensive and accurate guidebook to climbing and mountaineering in Bugaboo Park. It is written by Chris Atkinson and Marc Piche and published by Elaho Publishing (ISBN # 0-9733035-1-4).
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General Visitor Information
Persons visiting Bugaboo Provincial Park are reminded that the park is a wilderness area, without supplies or equipment of any kind. All arrangements for supplies and transportation must be made beforehand.
All park visitors should wear strong waterproofed, lug-soled boots and carry a daypack with raingear, extra warm clothing and food. Weather conditions can change suddenly in this area and lightning storms with hail and snow are common in summer. For overnight trips a sleeping bag, groundpad, waterproof tent or bivouac bag and lightweight stove are essential. Only experienced climbers practiced in crevasse rescue and properly roped should venture onto snowfields and glaciers.
Loaded logging trucks and other industrial traffic may be encountered while accessing this park. Drive with extreme caution and for your safety always yield to industrial traffic.
Climbers should check with the hut keepers on current conditions and destinations before departure. A register is kept in the Conrad Kain Hut for
this purpose and your convenience. Climbers are responsible for their
own safety; rescue services are not readily available. Public communications
services are not available.
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Location
Bugaboo Provincial Park is located in southeastern B.C., between Golden and Radium Hot Springs, and west of Highway 95. Access to the park is about 50km of gravel road from Hwy #95. This gravel road, which opens late spring through late fall, begins at Brisco, 27 kilometres north of Radium Hot Springs or 76 km south of Golden on Highway 95. A 4x4 is not required but a 2wd with some decent ground clearance is recommended. The last 3km section of the gravel road is rough; low-riding compact vehicles need to go slow to avoid scraping the bottom. It is recommended that visitors protect their vehicle perimeter with a portable chicken wire fence to deter porcupines and other small animals from chewing on rubber brake lines and tires.
Access to the northern portions of the park via the Vowell and Malloy Creek drainages is possible by leaving Highway 95 at Spillimacheen, north of Brisco, then crossing the Columbia River and turning left on the West Side Road. After travelling 0.8 km, turn right onto Bobbie Burns Creek drainage and drive past the lodge of the same name. Logging roads up Vowell Creek and Malloy Creek lead to semi-open terrain which can be hiked into the park. The status of bridges in inactive logging areas may vary in upper drainages.
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Map / Brochure
Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
- Park Map (58 kb pdf)
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Reservations
Walk-in or wilderness camping is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Conrad Kain Hut is available for overnight accommodation for a maximum of 40 persons. Reservations may be made through the Alpine Club of Canada at 403-678-3200 or through the Alpine Club of Canada website.
Any unreserved spaces are allocated on a first-come first-served basis. During the peak climbing months of July and August the hut is often full - reservations are highly recommended.
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Activities Available At This Park
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Climbing | |
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Hiking | |
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Hunting | |
Hunting is permitted in Bugaboo Provincial Park subject to the following conditions
No person shall possess a firearm, bow or crossbow in a park, conservancy or recreation area except a firearm, bow or crossbow that is carried in a vehicle and during an open season specified under the Wildlife Act and no person is permitted to discharge a firearm, bow or crossbow in a park, conservancy or recreation area except during an open season specified under the Wildlife Act and only for the purposes of hunting.
Also, no person shall hunt or discharge a firearm, bow or crossbow in a park, conservancy or recreation area within 400 metres of either side of the centreline of a park road or highway.
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Facilities Available At This Park
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Cabins / Huts / Yurts | |
The Conrad Kain Hut is available for overnight accommodation for a maximum of 40 persons. Reservations may be made through the Alpine Club of Canada at 403-678-3200 or through the Alpine Club of Canada website.
Any unreserved spaces are allocated on a first-come first-served basis. During the peak climbing months of July and August the hut is often full - reservations are highly recommended.
A small hydroelectric plant provides power for electric lighting and cooking, with propane stoves and lamps as backup to the electrical system. The kitchen is supplied with hot and cold running water as well as all necessary cooking and eating utensils. Foam mattresses are provided in the dormitory-style sleeping quarters located on the second floor and in the loft. Visitors must bring all other necessary equipment and utensils.
A nightly, per-person fee is levied during the period June 1 - September 30. Occupancy is limited to seven consecutive days. Fees are payable to the Alpine Club of Canada.
The Alpine Club of Canada charges the following fees for use of the cabin:
Click here for more information about the Conrad Kain Hut$25.00 per person/night
$50.00 per family/night
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Drinking Water | |
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Group Camping | |
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Picnic Areas | |
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Pit or Flush Toilets | |
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Walk-In/Wilderness Camping | |
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